There's an old joke: how do you get a guitar play to stop playing? Put sheet music in front of him. How do you get a classical musician to stop playing? Take away the sheet music. My gig Saturday night proved the second part of that joke wrong.

We played a bar in downtown Roanoke last Saturday and this guy came in carrying a violin. Usually, when someone shows up at a club carrying an instrument it sends up all kinds of alarms but this guy was a violinist with the Roanoke Symphony and had just finished playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons. I don't think he had ever heard any Dead tunes much less played any. We had him sit in on Bird Song and Estimated-Eyes later on. I think it came out alright.

What’s cool is that when someone new steps in with you guys or any band in general, that everyone usually listens to each other’s playing especially well. Usually to hear what new vibe is being brought to the table and not to step on their space and Vice versa. Great space between all instruments up there.

What’s cool is that when someone new steps in with you guys or any band in general, that everyone usually listens to each other’s playing especially well. Usually to hear what new vibe is being brought to the table and not to step on their space and Vice versa. Great space between all instruments up there.

I totally agree, we try to be good listeners all the time but familiarity tends to lead to automation which is, in turn, stagnation to improvisation. Everyone turned down and listened to what was going on. It's nice being conscious of leaving space.